The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine received the status of a competent authority in cooperation with Europol. This will accelerate the investigation in the field of illegal withdrawal of funds abroad and other criminal offenses committed in the field of economy. It is about the exchange of information, special knowledge, general summaries, results of strategic analysis, information on criminal investigation procedures, crime prevention methods, participation in training events, as well as providing advice and support in individual criminal investigations.

Already at the beginning of 2022 ,ESBU applied to the European Police Office with a request to acquire the status of a competent authority. This involves making changes to the Agreement between Ukraine and the European Police Office on operational and strategic cooperation.

On December 21, 2022 Europol made relevant changes to the Agreement. According to it, the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine is defined as one of the competent bodies in Ukraine, which according to national legislation is responsible for the prevention and fight against criminal offenses.

For reference. European Police Office - European Union law enforcement agency; collects information on criminal offenses. The body started its work in 1994, gradually expanding its activities to other types of criminality.

In 1999, Europol began full-scale work in all areas of its mandate, namely: illicit drug trafficking; illegal immigration networks; terrorism, illegal trade in vehicles, human trafficking and child pornography, production of counterfeit money and other means of payment, money laundering. Europol's priority areas of research include crimes against persons, financial and cybercrimes.

We will remind you that Latvian colleagues recently conducted a training for the ESBU on the protection of the financial interests of the EU.

More details: https://esbu.gov.ua/en/news/latvian-colleagues-held-training-economic-security-bureau-ukraine-protection-eu-financial-interests